Community Corner

Reliance Engine & Hose Co. #1 Honored for 190 Years of Service (VIDEO)

The Port Chester Reliance Engine & Hose Co. #1 formed in April, 1823 as The Clinton Engine Company #1 to serve the people of "the Sawpits" and "Lyons Point" in the Town of Rye. Today, that company is still serving the people of Rye, Port Chester and Rye Brook and the Village Board of Trustees honored its current and past members for their hard work and dedication Tuesday night.

Mayor Neil Pagano named Sept. 3, 2013 Reliance Engine & Hose Co. #1 Day and presented fire officials with a plaque and proclamation.

The fire company will hold a parade at 2 p.m. on Sept. 22 to celebrate their 190th Anniversary.

Reliance is one of seven volunteer companies in the Village of Port Chester, which also services the Village of Rye Brook.

Mayor Pagano's comments on the company's history:

Over 190 years ago, in April 1823, by an act of the state legislature The Clinton Engine Company #1 was organized for the purpose of providing fire protection for the hamlets of the Sawpits and Lyons Point in the Town of Rye and operated as the sole company of the dept until Putnam E & H was organized in 1854. The HHH & L #1 joined these companies in 1858. John Lounsbury, a prominent local businessman and member of Reliance was elected the first Chief Engineer of the PCFD and served as such until the end of 1862.

The first piece of fire apparatus was a 10 year old condemned, hand drawn-gooseneck style engine purchased from the City of New York for $300 without any other equipment or hose. This engine even with a “defective” cylinder went on to serve the company for over 40 years. In 1837 the company minutes record the first official use of the name of Port Chester for the hamlet, when it was voted by the residents to spend $250 for hose and other implements. Clinton later acquired a used hose reel from the city in the early 1850’s. In the mid 1870s Clinton Engine Company #1 was reorganized and changed its name to “Reliance” and then once again in 1886 when its name was changed to its final version “Reliance Engine & Hose #1”

Since its inception, there have been 11 members of the Company who have held the position as Chief Engineer – the most recent being Bob Drought who served from 2009 - 2010. The Company also honors 6 of its members who served the department as Ass’t Engineers without reaching the office of Chief Engineer. Three of its members went on to attain the office of President of the Westr County Volunteer Fireman’s Association. Sadly, one member – Joseph Hamilton – perished in the line of duty in 1938

Through those years many community families – generation after generation - have volunteered and supported the operation of the Company in its mission to protect our Community - Names like , Peck, Lounsbury’s, Studwells, Lyon’s, Connolly’s, Brundages, Wenkenbach’s, Moger’s, Underhill’s, Archers, O’Briens, Lewin’s, Kelly’s, Thalheimer’s, Santucci’s, McDades, MacPherson’s and Loizzo’s and many many others – have come together not only as part of the Firematic brotherhood but have become a family in the truest sense of the word.

On Sunday September 22, 2013– Reliance E & H and its member will celebrate and commemorate their 190th anniversary with a parade that will commence at 2PM.

I, along with the members of the Village BOT and staff of the Village of Port Chester would like to congratulate and thank all of the members of the company for the many years of service to our Community.

The Current Firematic and Parliamentary officers are

Captain Christopher Santucci

1st Lieutenant Louis Monti

2nd Lieutenant Brendan Loizzo

Head Driver Daniel Hickman



President John P. “Sean” Powers

Vice President Andrew Voelkel

Secretary Bryan A. Santucci

Treasurer William Irwin, Jr.


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